AU2006268839B2

AU2006268839B2 - Apparatus for the combustion of gas exiting from a furnace, for the preheating of scraps entering the furnace itself and related process

Info

Publication number: AU2006268839B2
Application number: AU2006268839A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paolo Argenta; Mauro Bianchi Ferri; Claudio Lodati; Silvio Reali
Original assignee: Techint Compagnia Tecnica Internazionale SpA
Current assignee: Techint Compagnia Tecnica Internazionale SpA
Priority date: 2005-07-14
Filing date: 2006-07-10
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-10
Also published as: ITMI20051338A1; US7767136B2; ES2574923T3; CN101120221B; MA29618B1; US20090031854A1; EP1902265A2; NO20080154L; RU2007148513A; TWI356154B; EG25111A; JP2009501310A; AU2006268839A1; CA2614780A1; JP5139978B2; MY144355A; UA89825C2; RU2415360C2; KR20140050757A; CA2614780C

Description

1 APPARATUS FOR THE COMBUSTION OF GAS EXITING FROM A FURNACE, FOR THE PREHEATING OF SCRAPS ENTERING THE FURNACE ITSELF AND RELATED PROCESS 5 The present invention refers to an apparatus for the combustion of gas exiting from a furnace, for the preheating of scraps entering the furnace itself and related process. A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, known 0 or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. Throughout the description of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other 5 additives or components or integers. The continuous loading systems of scraps in an electric arc furnace (EAF) for the production of steel, systems such as CONSTEEL@ for example, are objects of increasing interest. 20 A continuous loading system of scraps in an electric arc furnace coupled with a preheating system of the scrap metal entering the furnace itself permits reducing the treatment times of the scrap metal in the EAF, and reducing the EAF heat requirement, heat which is provided as electrical or chemical energy. C \po\ord\SPEC-818601.doc 1A In the structural procedure of systems like the CONSTEEL@, a by now consolidated procedure, the loading tunnel of the scrap metal to the furnace, or preheating chamber, is found under reduced pressure with respect to the environment, acting as an actual stack, moving the hot gases generated in the EAF onto the scrap metal. 5 The scrap metal thus undergoes a preheating due both to <filename, WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -2 the heat directly transferred from these hot gases to the scrap metal and to the heat generated from the post-combustion of gas exiting from the furnace. To preheat the scrap metal, therefore, it is possible 5 to take advantage of, as further energy source, the combustion of the remaining CO coming from the EAF. Currently, in the consolidated project procedures of continuous loading systems of scrap metal to the EAF, to obtain energy from the CO, an insertion system of 10 comburent substance (air) is used which foresees one or more ventilators and a system of ducts which brings the air along the roof and distributes it along the entire length of the loading tunnel of the scrap metal to the EAF. 15 The ventilators for the insertion of the comburent substance are controlled by a probe for the oxygen (or for the CO), which is placed at the bottom of the loading channel or tunnel, near the reception zone of the cool scraps in the loading tunnel. 20 Depending on the nature of the probe, the probe will detect the absence of CO or the presence of 02 in this zone of the scrap metal channel of loading to the furnace. The absence of CO (or the presence of 02) implies that the combustion reactions are completely 25 finished and have led to the extraction of the maximum possible heat.

WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -3 Nevertheless, a system of this type has considerable drawbacks deriving from a very complex response cycle. Such system is characterised, in fact, by a non immediate response and by a consequent slowness in 5 carrying out the necessary adaptations of the system itself for optimising the feeding of comburent substance as a function of the obtained results. In fact, if for example the control probe recognises the need to inject the comburent substance, the 10 response cycle foresees the opening of the gates for the insertion of air, the actuation of the ventilators for moving the air into the ducts which bring the air along the tunnel roof and the distribution of the air itself along the entire length of the loading tunnel or 15 channel of the scrap metal to the EAF. The time necessary to carry out such actions is rather long and reduces the overall efficiency of the system. In addition to the non-optimal response times, a further drawback of the system according to the state 20 of the art regards the high production and maintenance costs (service operations and failure possibilities) also considering the high number of mechanical elements (ventilators, ducts, gates) which can be or are subject to failure. 25 The preheating system according to the state of the art moreover foresees a further device called "Dynamic 4 Seal". The Dynamic Seal is a ventilator system with variable capacity, controlled by pressure sensors which remove the air at the inlet point of the scrap metal in the loading channel and which, therefore, prevent the uncontrolled entrance of air above and through the scrap metal. This element of the system is costly, complex, difficult to 5 calibrate and control. The presence of an aspirator in the inlet zone of the scrap metal loading channel, moreover, inserts dust into the surrounding zone coming from the scrap metal or from the lightest portion of the lime added as additive to the load entering the furnace. 10 It would therefore be desirable to resolve the abovementioned drawbacks in a simple, economical and particularly functional manner. It would also be desirable to provide an apparatus for the combustion of the gases exiting from an electric arc furnace for preheating the scraps entering the furnace 15 itself and the related process, and which permits greater cleanliness at the workplace. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace for the preheating of scraps entering the furnace itself, comprising a preheating chamber or loading tunnel of the 20 scrap metal having in sequence an insertion section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air in the loading tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace, and being associated to a smoke outlet duct, wherein said apparatus is provided with an insertion device of a comburent substance into said preheating chamber or loading tunnel and comprises a 25 centralised control system, an 02 or CO probe, which is located in or close to said <filename> 5 smoke outlet duct, and a mechanical seal device or a series of mechanical seal devices placed in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber, and wherein said insertion device of the comburent substance comprises one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said 5 preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to the centralised control system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from said 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly. 10 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace, for the preheating of load material of a steel production furnace entering the furnace itself, comprising the following steps: 15 - loading the load material or scrap metal to be fed to the furnace in an extended preheating chamber or loading tunnel, having in sequence an inlet section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air into the tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal; 20 - preheating the scrap metal by means of heat transfer from the hot gases leaving the furnace, which pass through and above the scrap metal inside the chamber; - and preheating the scrap metal by means of heat produced by the combustion, inside the chamber, of the unburnt CO coming from the furnace; 25 wherein the introduction of comburent substance is realised through an insertion <filmeame 6 device of the comburent substance comprising one or more adjustable openings in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the furnace, consisting of one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which 5 are connected to a centralised control system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from an 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly, and mechanical means, adapted for reducing the air insertion in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber. 10 WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -7 As indicated above, the insertion device of the comburent substance (preferably air), situated in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the furnace or unloading section of the scrap metal, can be integrated 5 by an improved, simplified and low cost device, which reduces the introduction of comburent substance in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading channel and, at the same time, reduces the emission of dust into the surrounding environment. 10 Such improved and simplified device which reduces the uncontrolled introduction of comburent substance in the tunnel and improves the environmental impact in the workplace corresponds to the mechanical seal device of the apparatus according to the present invention, 15 placed in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel. The mechanical seal device, placed in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel, is formed by at least one rubber or metal gate. 20 In particular, the mechanical seal, placed in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel, is formed by zero to five gates placed in the inlet section of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber, or cool part, zero to 25 five gates in the intermediate section of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -8 and zero to five gates in the outlet section, or warmest part, of the inlet section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber. Moreover, the gates in the inlet section of the 5 insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber, or cool part, are thin and flexible or finger like, made of rubber or metal, i.e. they are flexible tubes or thin flanking laminae. The gates in the intermediate section of the insertion 10 section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber are metal sheets with flanking flexible laminae, while the gates in the outlet section, or the warmest part of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber, are composed of massive, iron 15 panels, hinged to the fixed upper structure of the channel. In fact, in such innermost part of the loading channel or tunnel, the gates are directly exposed to the flow of hot gases coming from the furnace and from the heat 20 radiated from the furnace and from the warmest part of the loading channel. Such mechanical device ensures a strong reduction of the air flow, making the presence of the "Dynamic Seal" superfluous. 25 All of these solutions in fact permit following the edge of the scraps, reducing the total flow of air in WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -9 the channel. The absence of a ventilator which suctions directly from the scrap metal eliminates the problem of the environmental emission of the dust present on the scrap metal (accumulated by piling in open-air 5 deposits) as well as the lightest portions of the additive materials on the scrap metal. The substantial advantage of the system according to the present invention consists in a substantial reduction of the response times such to permit 10 obtaining a response in real time and a significant improvement of the environmental impact characteristics of the line. A further advantage of the system according to the present invention is its greater simplicity, since the 15 various gates and ventilators foreseen in the systems according to the state of the art have been eliminated. The apparatus and process according to the present invention have a further considerable economical advantage (regarding the initial investment and the 20 conduction and maintenance costs as well as those pertaining to the system availability), since they also permit eliminating the "Dynamic Seal" from the continuous preheating system of scraps. The apparatus according to the present invention, which 25 permits excluding such component, is therefore advantageously less burdensome (in terms of equipment 10 cost and maintenance and service costs), simpler and more reliable than that traditionally obtained with a "Dynamic Seal". The solution according to the present invention moreover has the advantage of an 5 improved and more targeted control of the comburent substance (for example air) in order to complete the combustion of combustible substances present in the scrap metal. All this improves the efficiency of the line (in terms of quality and cost per ton of the final product) as well as its environmental impact both at the factory level and regarding the overall atmosphere emissions. 10 According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the refining of steel comprising: - continuous preheating of the load material; - feeding of said material containing iron, directly reduced iron, or a blend of 15 both in an electric arc furnace in order to perform smelting and refining operations; - feeding of slag-forming elements in the bath for steel production; - introduction of carburising elements in the furnace for steel production; - electrical heating of the load using electrodes to melt the load and form a bath 20 of melted metal in the furnace with a layer of melted slag on said melted metal bath; - maintaining said slag in a foamy condition during the steel production process; - feeding of metal elements, slag formers and carburising elements into said 25 furnace; <lilename> 11 - maintaining full electrical power capacity in said furnace for the total loading, smelting and refining time; - intermittent tapping from the furnace, maintaining a liquid metal heel inside the furnace shell, said liquid metal heel representing a weight that varies 5 between 10% and 30% of the weight prior to tapping; wherein the preheating step of the melted material in turn comprises the following steps: - loading the load material or scrap metal to be fed to the furnace, into an extended preheating chamber or loading tunnel, having in sequence an inlet 10 section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air into the tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal; - preheating the scrap metal by means of heat transfer from the hot gases leaving the furnace, which pass through and above the scrap metal inside the 15 chamber; - and preheating of the scrap metal by means of heat produced by the combustion, inside the chamber, of the unburnt CO coming from the furnace; and wherein the insertion of comburent substance is realised through an insertion device of the comburent substance comprising one or more adjustable openings in 20 the insertion section of the scrap metal in the furnace or unloading section of the scrap metal, consisting of one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to a centralised control system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from an 02 or CO probe, computes 25 the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable <Fielame> 12 opening of said adjustable openings accordingly, and mechanic means adapted for the reduction of air insertion in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber. 5 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for the refining of steel comprising: - an electric arc furnace for the production of steel for smelting and refining a load of metal at its interior; - electrodes which extend into said furnace to a distance below the slag level in 10 a bath of melted material therein contained; - feeding means for feeding load materials inside said furnace and which are connected to said furnace for the introduction of load materials inside said furnace without the removal of the electrodes; - post-combustion means for post-combusting the unburnt CO present in the 15 emission gases of the furnace and which are associated to cooperate with said feeding means in order to preheat the load materials inside said feeding means; - means for measuring and controlling load material or scrap metal feeding comprising an automatic control device for the load material or scrap metal, 20 and a device for measuring the added load material, in correlation with the automatic control device; - a mechanical seal device located in the insertion section of the load material to the feeding means; - gas injection means that communicate with said furnace above and/or below 25 the normal melted metal level in the bath; and <ilelame' 13 - means for tilting said furnace for slagging and tapping operations, the tapping means being arranged in a manner so that said slant of said furnace will maintain a heel of melted liquid material inside said bath, said heel having a weight that varies approximately between 10% and 30% of the weight prior to 5 tapping, wherein: - said feeding means for the introduction of load materials inside said furnace comprise a preheating chamber or loading tunnel of scrap metal having in sequence an insertion section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air in the loading tunnel, a heating section and an 10 unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace, and being associated to a smoke outlet duct at which an 02 or CO probe is located, and wherein - said post-combustion means comprise an insertion device of a comburent substance which insertion device comprises one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at 15 said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to a centralised control system which acquires a signal from said 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly. 20 The structural and functional characteristics of the present invention and its advantages in relation to the prior art will be made clearer and more obvious from the following description, with reference to the appended drawings wherein: - Figure 1 is a vertical section of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; 25 - Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus of figure 1; <f||ename> WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -14 - Figure 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus of figure 1 according to the present invention; With reference to the drawings, in general and to figure 1 in particular, an embodiment of an apparatus 5 is shown according to the present invention, where an electric arc furnace for the production of steel 10 has an extended preheating chamber or tunnel 12, preferably a vibrating channel, for inserting the both metal and non-metal load materials into the furnace. 10 The furnace 10, represented as a three-phase electric furnace, can also alternatively be a continuous current furnace, a plasma furnace or an induction furnace. The preheating tunnel or chamber 12 has an extended support 14 covered by a corresponding extended shield, 15 preferably coated with refractory material. The preheating chamber or tunnel 12 has a mechanical seal device 18 at the inlet end of the load material, and starting from the inlet end of the load material, the preheating tunnel or chamber sequentially comprises 20 an inlet or insertion section of the load material 21, comprising the seal system 18 for preventing an uncontrolled entrance of air into the tunnel, one or more heating sections or zones 24, and a material unloading section 26. 25 The furnace 10 has an outlet opening 28 of the emission gases.

WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -15 The unloading section of the material of the preheating tunnel is mounted on a connection trolley 30 for an axial telescopic movement in engagement with the opening of the furnace 28 which effectively and 5 sealingly connects the stationary tunnel or chamber 12 with the furnace 10, which can be tilted. The connection trolley feeds the scraps from the preheating tunnel or chamber to the furnace, in the correct zone inside the furnace. 10 The connection trolley is advantageously mounted on a track 32. The emission gases of the furnace 10, rich in CO and whose temperature is generally around 1300 0 C, enter into the heating chamber 12 of the scraps (which the 15 smoke outlet duct 42 places under reduced pressure) through the material unloading opening 28. The emission gas of the furnace provides the heating in the preheating chamber of the load material in two main ways: by means of the considerable heat of the gas 20 itself (which flows through the scrap metal) and by means of the combustion of the unburnt CO present in the emission gases of the furnace. The heating section 24 is provided with one or more adjustable openings 34 placed in the loading tunnel in 25 the area of the section 26 close to the insertion zone of the preheated scrap metal in the furnace, opening 34 WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -16 being connected to a centralised control system (38, shown in figure 2). The combustion of the CO coming from the furnace (the chemical reaction between the combustible material - CO 5 -- and comburent substance - for example air) is ensured, sustained, and maintained by the temperature of the gases (up to 1,3000C) which in any case exceeds the fire point. The variable opening of the slit(s) 34 (and in general 10 the injection of the comburent substance) is governed by the line controller in (direct or inverse) proportion to the signal extracted from the CO or 02 probe (40). An oxygen or CO probe 40 is arranged either in the 15 outlet section 42 or still in the zone 24 but close to the smoke outlet duct 42 (as seen in figure 2). This probe 40 controls the introduction of air through the insertion device comprising the adjustable opening 34 to allow the operating conditions to vary rapidly in 20 response to the composition variations of the emission gases from the furnace. The oxygen probe 40, which can also be a multiple gas analyser, operates on the adjustment of the comburent insertion device and on the level of combustion in the 25 chamber 12. A small quantity of air enters into the seal zone 21 to WO 2007/006558 PCT/EP2006/006800 -17 prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air in the tunnel 12 through the mechanical seal device 18. The scraps load enters into the preheating chamber on a belt through mechanical seal closure 18. 5 The device of treatment of the emission gases and suction of the preheater is connected to the chamber 12 in proximity to and above the mechanical seal closure 18 through the duct 42. The protective scope of the invention is therefore 10 defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace for the preheating of scraps entering the furnace itself, comprising a preheating chamber or loading tunnel of the scrap metal having in sequence an insertion section of the 5 scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air in the loading tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace, and being associated to a smoke outlet duct, wherein said apparatus is provided with an insertion device of a comburent substance into said preheating chamber or loading tunnel and comprises a centralised control system, an 02 or 10 CO probe, which is located in or close to said smoke outlet duct, and a mechanical seal device or a series of mechanical seal devices placed in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber, and wherein said insertion device of the comburent substance comprises one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading 15 tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to the centralised control system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from said 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly. 20

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical seal device, placed in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber or loading tunnel, is made of at least one rubber or metal gate.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber or loading tunnel comprises an inlet section or cool part, 25 an intermediate section and an outlet section or warmest part, said mechanical <filename> 19 seal device being made of zero to five gates placed in the inlet section of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber, or cool part, zero to five gates in the intermediate section of the insertion section of the scrap metal into the preheating chamber, and zero to five gates in the outlet section, or warmest 5 part, of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gates in the inlet section of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber, or cool part, are thin and flexible or finger-like, made of rubber or metal, i.e. they are flexible tubes or thin flanking laminae. 10

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gates in the intermediate section of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber are made of metal sheets with flanking flexible laminae.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gates in the outlet section, or warmest part, of the insertion section of the scrap metal in the preheating chamber 15 are composed of massive, iron panels hinged to the fixed upper structure of the channel.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it has a mechanical seal device integrated with a dynamic closure device or Dynamic Seal.

8. Process for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace, for the 20 preheating of load material of a steel production furnace entering the furnace itself, comprising the following steps: - loading the load material or scrap metal to be fed to the furnace in an extended preheating chamber or loading tunnel, having in sequence an inlet section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance 25 of air into the tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap <filename> 20 metal; - preheating the scrap metal by means of heat transfer from the hot gases leaving the furnace, which pass through and above the scrap metal inside the chamber; 5 - and preheating the scrap metal by means of heat produced by the combustion, inside the chamber, of the unburnt CO coming from the furnace; wherein the introduction of comburent substance is realised through an insertion device of the comburent substance comprising one or more adjustable openings in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the furnace, consisting of one or more 10 adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to a centralised control system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from an 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said 15 adjustable openings accordingly, and mechanical means, adapted for reducing the air insertion in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber.

9. Process for the refining of steel comprising: - continuous preheating of the load material; 20 - feeding of said material containing iron, directly reduced iron, or a blend of both in an electric arc furnace in order to perform smelting and refining operations; - feeding of slag-forming elements in the bath for steel production; - introduction of carburising elements in the furnace for steel production; 25 - electrical heating of the load using electrodes to melt the load and form a <filename> 21 bath of melted metal in the furnace with a layer of melted slag on said melted metal bath; - maintaining said slag in a foamy condition during the steel production process; 5 - feeding of metal elements, slag formers and carburising elements into said furnace; - maintaining full electrical power capacity in said furnace for the total loading, smelting and refining time; - intermittent tapping from the furnace, maintaining a liquid metal heel inside 10 the furnace shell, said liquid metal heel representing a weight that varies between 10% and 30% of the weight prior to tapping; wherein the preheating step of the melted material in turn comprises the following steps: - loading the load material or scrap metal to be fed to the furnace, into an 15 extended preheating chamber or loading tunnel, having in sequence an inlet section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air into the tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal; - preheating the scrap metal by means of heat transfer from the hot gases 20 leaving the furnace, which pass through and above the scrap metal inside the chamber; - and preheating of the scrap metal by means of heat produced by the combustion, inside the chamber, of the unburnt CO coming from the furnace; and wherein the insertion of comburent substance is realised through an insertion 25 device of the comburent substance comprising one or more adjustable openings <filename> 22 in the insertion section of the scrap metal in the furnace or unloading section of the scrap metal, consisting of one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are connected to a centralised control 5 system, which centralised control system acquires a signal from an 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly, and mechanic means adapted for the reduction of air insertion in the inlet section of the scrap metal in the loading tunnel or preheating chamber.

10 10. Apparatus for the refining of steel comprising: - an electric arc furnace for the production of steel for smelting and refining a load of metal at its interior; - electrodes which extend into said furnace to a distance below the slag level in a bath of melted material therein contained; 15 - feeding means for feeding load materials inside said furnace and which are connected to said furnace for the introduction of load materials inside said furnace without the removal of the electrodes; - post-combustion means for post-combusting the unburnt CO present in the emission gases of the furnace and which are associated to cooperate with 20 said feeding means in order to preheat the load materials inside said feeding means; - means for measuring and controlling load material or scrap metal feeding comprising an automatic control device for the load material or scrap metal, and a device for measuring the added load material, in correlation with the 25 automatic control device; <Iename> 23 - a mechanical seal device located in the insertion section of the load material to the feeding means; - gas injection means that communicate with said furnace above and/or below the normal melted metal level in the bath; and 5 - means for tilting said furnace for slagging and tapping operations, the tapping means being arranged in a manner so that said slant of said furnace will maintain a heel of melted liquid material inside said bath, said heel having a weight that varies approximately between 10% and 30% of the weight prior to tapping, wherein: 10 - said feeding means for the introduction of load materials inside said furnace comprise a preheating chamber or loading tunnel of scrap metal having in sequence an insertion section of the scrap metal, a seal section to prevent an uncontrolled entrance of air in the loading tunnel, a heating section and an unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace, and being associated to a 15 smoke outlet duct at which an 02 or CO probe is located, and wherein - said post-combustion means comprise an insertion device of a comburent substance which insertion device comprises one or more adjustable openings which are placed on the roof of said preheating chamber or loading tunnel at said unloading section of the scrap metal in the furnace and which are 20 connected to a centralised control system which acquires a signal from said 02 or CO probe, computes the required comburent air in proportion to said signal and governs the variable opening of said adjustable openings accordingly.

11. Apparatus for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace for the 25 preheating of scraps entering the furnace itself as hereinbefore described with 'roenan~e- 24 reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Process for the combustion of gas exiting from an electric arc furnace, for the preheating of loud material of a steel production furnace entering the furnace itself as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5

13. Process for the refining of steel as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Apparatus for the refining of steel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. <filename>